I was born June 23, 1942. I spent my entire childhood in a small town in
Northern West Virginia called Pughtown. In 1968 the town was renamed, New
Manchester. I attended Chester High School in Chester, West Virginia and
graduated in 1960. I then attended Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
and received my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

I entered the United States Navy in October 1964. I received my commission on
5 March 1965 at Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. My first
duty station was at Commander Fleet Air in San Diego, California. In the fall
of 1966 I went to Pensacola, Florida to train as a Naval Flight Officer. I
received my wings in September 1967. I was assigned as a Radar Intercept
Officer in F-4B's and completed this training in April 1968. I was then
assigned to VF-142 at NAS Miramar, California. The squadron left for Vietnam
on 29 May 1968 on the aircraft carrier, USS Constellation.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their thoughts and
prayers and also those who helped my family. It was a great source of
strength for me. Thanks so much from my family and me.